2023 Presidency: ‘Do away with Civil War sentiments, build bridges,’ Bishop tells Ndigbo

[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]

Methodist Bishop, Dr Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, has advised Ndigbo to do away with the civil war sentiments and build bridges of friendship across Nigeria.

According to the Bishop, bridges yield connections. “Only bridges of understanding can connect; and unless you connect, you cannot begin to reconcile, forgive and heal,” said the 2013 Global Peace prize winner.

Onuoha who is the Founder and President of Vision Africa, was the Keynote Speaker at a one-day conference organized by the Vision Foundation for Bridge Building and Effective Governance (VFBBEG), a non-governmental organization which is urging government of Abia State to chart a new course for sustainable development.

 The conference which was held in Umuahia, Abia State capital, had the theme: “Sustainable Path to Development in Abia State Through Bridge Building and Effective Governance: The Way Forward.”

Onuoha said that in the build up to the 2023 presidential election, Ndigbo should “get out of the Civil War sentiments and build bridges” across Nigeria, to be able to win the coveted seat.

While warning against any rash action that would boomerang, the Keynote Speaker said Ndigbo should be mindful that the only thing that defies human solution is death.

“Only a foolish person will build barriers of misunderstanding and rob everyone of the blessing that comes with peace and brotherliness.

“Also, I admonish the angry and offended in our land; don’t do anything foolish that will permanently scar us, because you feel temporarily frustrated. Don’t burn old bridges, because when we will need to walk back the path to truth, what will be our fate if the bridge that lets us through is no longer there?  

“May we all be mindful, that the only thing without a human solution is death. Forgiveness is possible. Healing is possible. Reconciliation is possible. And by God, cleansing is possible!”

Dr. Onuoha maintained that every government which aims to create a sustainable path to development must be anchored on the principles of Transparency; Effective Participation; Political pluralism; Equity; Responsibility; Accountability and Responsiveness; which the participants echoed were in short supply al all levels of government in Nigeria.

The clergyman said that good governance must always respond to issues of human rights.

“The key question is: are the institutions of governance effectively guaranteeing the right to health, adequate housing, sufficient food, quality education, fair justice and personal security? In all fairness, there cannot be good governance where basic human rights needs are not met.  

“Only in a conducive and enabling environment can human rights be respected, and maybe enforced. Only in a conducive and peaceful environment can businesses thrive; only in a secure and thriving environment can investments spring up and flourish,” he submitted.

He asserted that lack of sincerity; inclusiveness and not allowing effective participation by the masses in governance have triggered lack of patriotism in the citizens.

 “In the absence of the rule of law, principles like Justice, patriotism and inclusiveness fly out of the window. Our government’s score card in this regard has long been used as firewood to stoke the fire of our nation’s divisiveness.  

“As a people, we have scored poorly because we have come to realize that there is no value or reward in sticking it out with a sinking ship, whose captain seems to be taking the long nap of death.” Onuoha added.

He suggested that factors like godfatherism and ethnicity should be eliminated to enable competent persons make it in politics by gaining access to positions of responsibility.

The Keynote Speaker said the sustainable path to development would be re-enacted “when government and leaders at all levels, willfully and conscientiously commit to bridging the gap between the poor and the rich; the lead and the led; the elite and the common man on the streets; deliberately resuscitate the dying middle class; reform and enhance basic human rights, such as the right to education, health and food.”

Chairman of the occasion and a former Secretary to Abia State Government, Pastor Ralph Egbu, said that it was time to take Abia to another level through better ideas.

Egbu said what Abia needs at her driving seat was a man of intellect, vision and integrity to move Abia forward and warned politicians against plunging Abia into anarchy because of their quest to become governor.

Earlier, the Executive Director of Voice Foundation, Elder Charles Dike, said the conference was called to identify and proffer solutions to leadership and development issues in Abia.

The Conference featured a panel of discussants who dissected the paper presented by the Keynote Speaker as it affected the principles of good governance and various sectors.